‘I had a facelift at 80’

Toni Goldenberg, a great grandmother from Surrey, had dreamed of getting a face lift for years.

“The difficult part about getting to my age is that you still feel young at heart, but then you catch sight of yourself in the mirror and that can be upsetting,” she told me. “People talk over you and are not interested in you any more. It can feel terribly lonely a lot of the time, as if you’re invisible.”

I explained to Toni that a general anaesthetic at her age posed greater risks, including death, but she joked, “At least

I’d look good in my coffin.”

Toni, who’s widowed, had to undergo extensive tests to evaluate if she was suitable for the 3.5 hour surgery. It’s important to look at factors such as high blood pressure, heart and lung disease and immobility, and not base a judgement on age alone. Toni didn’t smoke or drink, she wasn’t overweight, had no underlying medical problems and was declared fit and healthy.

The procedure went smoothly, and two months later, she came in for a check-up. She said, “My neck and jowls made me look miserable but now I look fresh and happy. I’m trying on new clothes, experimenting with new make-up and talking to anybody who will listen. I feel like a new woman.”

Before after

For more information on Lesley and her team of doctors visit harleystreetskinclinic.com